Refrigerating apparatus



Patented Feb. 20, 1934 PATENT OFFICE I 1 UNITED- ,STATES One of theimportant objects of the invention is to provide apparatus which isautomatically operated by the melting or vaporization of the solidcarbon dioxide which is placed in a movable carrier within a coolingchamber, metallic conductors being provided which assist in thetransmission of the cold from the refrigerant carrier to the ice creamor food container.

A further object of the invention is to provide the refrigerant carrierwith resilient means, pref erably springs, which serve to graduallyraise the refrigerant carrier within its chamber as the va porization ofthe solid carbon dioxide continues and'the solid carbon dioxidediminishes in size.

It is a further object of the invention to construct the chamber, withinwhich the refrigerant carrier moves, with two sets of openings orapertures, one set being elongated rectangular openings for thereception of the metallic conductors which contact with the movablerefrigerant carrier and the ice cream containers, respectively, and theother set being square, rectangular or round apertures for the passagetherethrough of the vapor from the melting or evaporating carbon dioxideto the ice cream or other food product containers.

One of the objects of the invention is to construct the solid carbondioxide carrier with various means to control the movement thereofandassist in the conduction and passage of the vapor and cold air in thecooling chamber and through the apertures extending through the walls ofthe carrier chamber.

Another object of the invention is to construct the metallic coldconductors so that they make contact along the length of the ice creamcontainers and also extend about the top portions thereof to keep theice cream containers in a constantly cold condition.

It is an additional object of the invention to connect the ice creamcontainers with cold conducting plates which are independent of the dryice carrier and chamber.

A further object of the invention is to construct the apparatus to formdirect passages for. the travel of the carbon dioxide vapor andrefrigerated air to the ice cream containers.

The invention will be explained and more read-- ily understood when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one formof the invention, it being obvious that variouschanges and modificationsin the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims forming a part hereof. 60

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the refrigerator showing covers for theice cream container compartments and the hinged cover of the refrigerantcompartment.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the refrigerator onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the refrigerator on the lines 3-3of Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the refrigerator on the lineH- of Figure 3. 4

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the icev cream container showingthe metallic cold conductor with its arms embracing the ice creamcontainer. and also the cold conducting plates 76 connecting the icecream containers in the refrigerator. I

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the ice cream container and oneof the cold conducting plates and also shows the metallic cold conductor80 shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a cross sectional view, looking downwardly on the line'7--7 of Figure 2', and illustrates one of the ice cream containers. andthe metallic cold conductor, and the manner of its fitting in the wallof the cooling chamber.

Figure 8-is a perspective view of the solid carbon dioxide carrier whichmoves in the cooling chamber which is placed between the ice creamcontainers, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the walls of the cooling chamber inwhich the carrier shown in Figure 8 travels, upwardly and downwardly,portions of the chamber walls being broken away and illustrates theopenings in the walls for the reception of the metallic cold conductorsand the passage of vapors and cold air.

The refrigerator embodying my inventionfis constructed with the usualouter metallic wall 10, and the inner curved metallic wall 11, with anintermediate wall 12. Comminuted cork filling 13 is placed between thewalls 10 and 12, and wool or other desirable filling or insulatingmaterial -is placed between the walls 11 and 12.

The bottom wall of the refrigerator is constructed with the 'fioor 15and the corner boards .16. Comminuted cork filling material 13 is 'plate24 are placed between the side walls 25 and 26. The side walls 25 and 26extend upwardly from the walls 17. Metallic cold conductors 2'7 and 28are fitted into them and will be further considered hereinafter. v Thecompartment 29 lies between the compartments 19 and 20 which in turncontain the ice cream cans 21 and 22. The inner portions of the curvedwalls 11 and the walls 25 and26 confine the insulating wool 14 to thelower por-" tion of the space between the curved walls 11 and the walls25 and 26, leaving the spaces 30 and 31 for the reception and passage ofthe vapor from the solid carbon dioxide, as hereinafter set forth.

The top of the refrigerator is constructed with the plates 32, the topboard 33 and the top covering 34. Tar paper, or other insulatingmaterial,

35 is placed between the boards or plates 32.

Covers 36 for the compartments 21 and 22, respectively, are providedafter the tops of the compartments 19 and20, have been finished-in anywell known manner. A hinge cover 3'7 is fittedinto the top of therefrigerant chamber 29. The hinged cover 37 is also provided. withcomminuted cork 13 which is held in place by the top board 38, sidepieces and the retaining plate 39.

A lock or catch 40, such as is shown in the drawings, or other suitablemeans, is employed to keep the cover 37 closed in proper position whenthe refrigerator is normally in use.

" The compartment 29 having the side walls 25 and 26 is provided withtheend walls 41 and 42. The solid carbon dioxide carrier, generallydesignated 43, moves upwardly and downwardly within the chamber 29,formed by the walls 25, 26, 41 and 42. The side wall 25 is provided withthe vertically extending opening 44 to receive the metallic coldconductor 2'7, and the side wall 26 is provided with the verticallyextending opening 45 to receive the metallic cold conductor 28.

The end wall 41 is provided with the opening 46 and the end wall 42 isprovided with the opening 47. .These openings 46 and 4'7 may be square,rectangular, round or any desirable form. 'The walls 25 and 26arepreferably of some material whichwill assist in the conduction of thecold to the ice cream containers 21 and 22. They may be of pressed wood,or any other suitable insulating material. The end walls 41 and 42whichpare shown thicker than the walls 25 and 26, may be of wood.

.The metallic cold conductors 2'7 and 28 are each provided with groovesinto which the side walls 25 and 26 arefitted. This, is best shown inFigures 3 and '7.

The metallic cold conductors 2'7 and 28 are each fitted with the arcuatearms 48 and 49, which embrace and contact the top portions of the curvedwalls 11 which surround the ice cream containers '21 and'22. Themetallic cold conductors 2'7 and 28 are also provided with thecontacting portions 50 and the depending vertical contacting strips 51,The

grooved metallic cold conductors 2'7 and 28 with their respectivearcuate arms 48 and 49, and the contacting portions 50 and dependingstrips 51 are each preferably integral structures.

A large metallic plate 52 connects the curved- 8 wall 11 at one side 'ofthe ice cream containers and similarly a large metallic plate 53connects the curved walls 11 at the opposite side.

The solid carbon dioxide carrier 43 which travels in the compartment 29is constructed of 8| metal, to withstand the wear and tear and shockresulting. from the frequent dropping of the refrigerant'therein and italsoacts as a conductor for the cold. The carrier comprises the sidewalls 54 and 55 and the end walls 56 and '57,

' and also the bottom 58. There is no top on the refrigerant containeror carrier 43., The box or carrier may be reenforced in any desirableway especially at the -corners as best shown in Figure 8.

I The bottom 58 is provided with a plurality of perforations 58a toallow the vapor or gas from the solid carbon dioxide to pass through-the perforations into the space beneath the carrier 43 and into thevarious ppenings and passages hereinafter described. The walls 56 and5'1 are provided with the depending portions 58 and 59, respectively.These dependent end portions or aprons act as cold conductors and alsoact as closures for the openings 46 and 4'7 in the end walls 41 and 42.The'dependent end portionser aprons extend to a distance short of theends of the three parallel supporting and cold conducting plates 60. Itwill be understood that any desirable number of coldconducting plates110.

60 may be used. These supporting plates 60 are in parallel relation andare afilxed to the bottom faces of the bottom wall 58. The parallelplates 60 are provided with flanged ends enabling them to be readilysecured to the bottomllfi face of the wall 58. When the solid carbondioxidecarrier 43 is in its lowermost position, the lower ends of theplates orsupports 60 rest on the top of the wall 24.

Four springs 61 have their lower ends secured to the bottom portions ofthe refrigerant car-, rier. 43 and have their upper ends secured to andsuspended from hooks or other supports 62, which are-fastened in thewalls 25 and 26, respectively or other suitable location in the upperportion of the cooling chamber. These four springs 61 are coil springsand are of the desired strength so that they may serve to operate andcontrol the gradual 'movement of the refrigerator container upwardly inthe compartment 29 during the evaporation of the solid carbon .dioxideand thus automatically control the temperature in" the cooling chamber29. It will be understood that other means than the coil springs may beused for the operation of the moving refrigerant carrier. Therefrigerant container 43 is caused to descend into the compartment 29against the action of the coil springs 61 when the solid carbon dioxideis initially placed in the carrier 43.

The large metallic plates 52 and 53 which extend from the circularwalls, 11 in the ice cream. container compartments on each side of thecompartment' 29 areformed with flanged edges'so that they form airpockets 63 and 64 extending across the front and back portions of therefrigerator from one freezing compartment tothe other in order to holdand trap the carbon dioxide gas and avoid circulation of the gas aroundthe containers. 130' The operation of the structure of the invention isas follows:

When the solid carbon dioxide of the proper initial weight is placed inthe refrigerant container or carrier 43, the solid carbon dioxide causesthe carrier 43 to descend in the chamber 29, to its lowermost level asshown in Figures 2 and 4, and the downward progress of the car'- rier isstopped when the lower edges of the three supporting plates 60 rest onthe cooling chamber bottom wall 24. At this time the depending walls oraprons 58 and 59 close the openings 46 and 47 in the end walls 41 and42. At all times during its movement upwardly and downwardly in theco1'r1partmecnt.29, the metallic refrigerant carrier 43 is in directcontact .with the metallic cold conductor. depending faces 51 of themetallic cold conductors 27 and 28. As the solid carbon dioxideevaporates the refrigerant carrier 43 gradually rises and graduallypasses the openings 46 and 4'7 in the walls 41'and 42, respectively,permitting the vapor from the solid carbon dioxide to pass through theperforations 58a into the space below the refrigerant carrier 43, and topass through the openings 46 and 4'7, into the pockets 63 and 64, andthe space between the plates 52 and 53 and the outer surfaces of theinner portions of the ice cream can container walls 11 on each side ofthe cooling chamber 29, thereby also cooling the metallic conductors 2'7and 28. The carbon dioxide gas assists the diminishing block of solidcarbon dioxide ice in supplying direct cold gas refrigeration.

It will therefore be seen that there is an automatic operation of thecooling system of the refrigerator by the gradual raising of the solidcarbon dioxide in its carrier by its evaporation and this evaporationcauses the passing off of the carbon dioxide gas through the openings ofthe cooling chamber to contact with the metallic conductors and theoutside portions of the ice cream containers. The refrigerant carrier isgradually raised in the cooling chamber not only by means of thelessening of the solid carbon dioxide but by the action of the foursprings.

As the refrigerant carrier is raised with the constantly diminishingsolid carbon dioxide, the' .constantly in contact with the carbondioxidev gas emanating from the evaporating solid carbon dioxide duringthe entire raising of the refrigerant cage or carrier, thus conductingcold to the ice cream or other food in the containers.

It will also be seen that the construction of the refrigerator with'thevarious openings and passages which have been described, in which thecarbon dioxide gas flows, equalizes the temperature in the refrigeratorby means of insulating the bottom portion of the refrigerator so thatthe carbon dioxide gas cannot reach that portion. To assist in thisoperation the vertical extensions 51 of the metallic cold conductors arestopped short of the bottom at about the same height as the insulatedpart in the lower portion of the re-- frigerator and a little lower thanthe bottom of the openings 46 and 4'7, for the passage of the carbondioxide gas, as indicated at 65 and 66, in Figure 4.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters patent of the United Statesis:

1. In a refrigerator the combination of a cooling compartment and amovable refrigerant carrier, the refrigerant carrier beingsuspended'insaid compartment, an opening in a wall of the compartment, said openingbeing controlled by the movement .of said carrier.

2. In a refrigerator the combination of a cooling compartment and amovable refrigerant carrier, the refrigerant carrier being suspended insaid compartment, the suspension being effected by resilient meansconnected with said refrigerant container, an opening in a wall of thecompartment, said opening being controlled by the movement of saidcarrier.

3. In a refrigerator the combination of a cooling compartment and amovable refrigerant carrier, the refrigerant carrier being suspended insaid compartment, the suspension being effected by springs connectedwith said refrigerant container, an opening in a wall of thecompartment, said opening being controlled by the movement of saidcarrier.

4. In a refrigerator the combination of a compartment, said compartmentbeing adapted to receive food products to be cooled and a coolingcompartment, a refrigerant carrier in said cooling compartment, saidrefrigerant carrier being supported in said cooling compartment bysprings secured to said carrier whereby saidcarrier is adapted to moveupwardly or downwardly with or against the action of said springs as therefrigerant in said carrier becomes less, said carrier being independentof the walls of said cooling compartment yet constantly contactingtherewith.

5. In a refrigerator, the combination of a compartment adapted tocontain food products and a cooling compartment, a movable refrigerantcarrier in said cooling compartment, "one wall of said coolingcompartment having an opening therein, a cold conductor member in saidopening and saidrefrigerant container contacting with said conductormember in its movement within said cooling chamber.

6. In a refrigerator the combination of compartments adapted to contain'food products and a cooling compartment, a movable refrigerant carrierin said cooling compartment, two walls of said cooling compartment eachhaving an opening therein, and a cold conductor member in each of saidopenings, said refrigerant container contacting with said conductionmembers in its movement within said cooling chamber.

7. In a refrigerator the combination of a compartment adapted to containfood products and a cooling compartment, a movable refrigerant carrierin said cooling compartment, one wall of said cooling compartment havingan opening therein, a cold conductor member in said opening and saidrefrigerant container contacting with said conductor member in itsmovement. within said cooling chamber, the refrigerant carrier beingsuspended in said compartment, the suspena cooling compartment, amovable refrigerant red carrier in said cooling compartment, the wallsof said cooling compartment each having an open-.

tainer contacting with said conduction members in its movement withinsaid cooling chamber, the

' refrigerant carrier being suspended in said comadapted to receiveconduction members, said carrier being in. constant contact, with saidconduction members, and said carrier being supported by springs .wherebysaid carrier may gradually move upwardly as the solid carbon dioxideevaporates, the vapor from said solid carbon dioxide passing from saidcarrier into said cooling compartment and through said openings otherthan the openings adapted to receive the conduction members to cool thefood product contained in said first mentioned compartment.

10. In a refrigerator the combination of a com- I partment adapted tocontain food products and a cooling chamber, said cooling chamber beingformed with walls, each of said walls being provided with an opening,two of said openings being adapted to receive metallic cold conductionmembers and the remaining two walls each having openings, a carrier forcarrying solid carbon dioxide, said carrier being movable within saidwalls, conduction members in the openings adapted to receive conductionmembers, said carrier being in constant contact with said conductionmembers, and said carrier being supported by springs whereby saidcarrier may gradually move upwardly as the solid carbon dioxideevaporates, the vapor from said solid carbon dioxide passing from saidcarrier into said cooling compartment and through said openings otherthan the openings adapted to receive the conduction members to cool thefood product contained in said first mentioned compartment, walls ofsaid refrigerant carrier being extended to form aprons or closures forsaid vapor openings.

11. In a refrigerator the combination. of a compartment adapted tocontain food products and a-cooling chamber, said cooling chamber beingformed with walls, each of said walls being provided with an opening,two of said openings being adapted to receive metallic cold conductionmembers and the remaining two walls each having openings, a carrier forcarrying solid carbon dioxide, said carrier being movable within saidwalls, conduction members in the openings adapted to receive conductionmembers, said carrier being in constant contact with said conductionmembers, and said carrier being supported by springs whereby saidcarrier may gradually move upwardly as the solid carbon dioxideevaporates, the 'vapor from said solid carbon dioxide passing from saidcarrier into said cooling compartment and through said openings otherthan the openings adapted to receive the conduction members to cool thefood product contained in the first mentioned compartment, walls of saidrefrigerant carrier beingextended to form aprons or closures for saidvapor openings, and the refrigerant carrier also being provided withlongitudinally spaced plates, the lower ends of which extend beyond saidclosures whereby the downcompartments.

.ward travel of said refrigerant container is limited.

12. Ina refrigerator the combination of compartments adapted to containfood products and a cooling compartment, a movable refrigerant.

carrier in said.coolingcompartment, two walls of said coolingcompartment each having an opening therein, and a metallic coldconductor member in each of said openings, said refrigerant carriercontacting with said conductor members in its movement within saidcooling chamber,

metallic plates connecting the walls of said food products compartments,said cold conductor members having arms to partially surround the wallsof said food products compartments.

13. In a refrigerator the combination of compartments adapted to containfood products and a cooling compartment, a movable refrigerant carrierin said cooling compartment, two'walls of. said cooling compartment eachhaving an opening thereinand a metallic cold conductor member in each ofsaid openings, each of said cold conductor members having arms whichpartially embrace the walls of said food products 14. In a refrigeratorthe combination of a.

compartment adapted'to contain food products and a cooling chamber, saidcooling chamber being provided with openings, said cooling chamber alsobeing provided with a" movable refrigerant container, the movement ofsaid refrigalso being provided with a movable refrigerant carrier,apertures in the bottom wall of the movable refrigerant carrier, themovement of said refrigerant carrier controlling the cooling chamberopenings and also assisting in controlling the action of therefrigerant.

16. In a refrigerator theeombination of a compartment adapted to containfood products and a cooling chamber, said cooling chamber being providedwith openings, said cooling chamber also being provided with a movablerefrigerant container, the. movement of said refrigerant containercontrolling the openings and also assisting in controllingthe action ofthe refrigerant, said refrigerant container being moved in said coolingcompartment by evaporation-of the refrigerant and the action of springs.

17. In a refrigerator the combination of a compartment adapted tocontain food products and a. cooling chamber, said cooling chamber beingprovided with openings, said cooling chamber also being provided with amovable refrigerant container, said refrigerant container also havingdownwardly extending aprons at its ends and a plurality 'of longitudinalplates between said aprons, springs attached to the movable refrigerantcontainer, the movement of said refrigerant container and its apronscontrolling the openings and also assisting in controlling the action ofthe refrigerant, said plates between said'aprons acting as stopstothe'travel of said refrigerant container and also as refrigerantconductors, said refrigerant container being moved in said coolingcompartment by evaporation of the refrigerant and the action of saidsprings.

